Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docalhulam’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Docalhulam’, characterized by its semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large flowers with purple violet and close to black bi-colored petals; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOCALHULAM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa X hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Docalhulam’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and early-flowering and vigorous Calibrachoa plants with large attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2015 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code number AA14-001955-004, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code number AA11-002264-004, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Docalhulam’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Docalhulam’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent         plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large flowers with purple violet and close to black         bi-colored petals.     -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoa sp. ‘KLECA07129’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘KLECA07129’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous than plants         of ‘KLECA07129’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘KLECA07129’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘KLECA07129’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘KLECA07129’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘KLECA07129’ have violet-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Docalhulam’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 16 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa X hybrida ‘Docalhulam’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code number             AA14-001955-004, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa X hybrida identified as code number             AA11-002264-004, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Semi-upright to outwardly spreading             to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching             habit with about seven primary lateral branches each with             about eight to ten secondary lateral branches developing per             plant; pinching enhances branching; dense and full             appearance; vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 17.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 19             cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread of plant).—About 76 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 41 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing             and decumbent.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144B; at the internodes, close             to 144C.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 152A; at the internodes, close to             144C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after             flowering, opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 9 mm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;             matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 151D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137B; venation, close to 150D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 300 to 400 flowers developing per plant during the             flowering season; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about six             weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the             spring throughout the summer in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.2 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 3.5 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Rippled,             pubescent; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 156A and 150C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.6 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.2 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Petal, when opening and fully opened, upper surface:             Distally, close to N81A; towards the throat, closest to             202A; venation, close to 202A; color becoming closer to N79A             with development. Petal, when opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 197B; venation, close to 200A; color             becoming closer to N79A with development. Throat: Close to             3B; venation, close to 200C. Tube: Close to 151D; venation,             close to 200B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.5 cm. Sepal             width: About 4 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color: When developing             and fully developed, upper surface: Close to 137D. When             developing and fully developed, lower surface: Close to             137D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close             to 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color: Close to 149D.             Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther             color: Close to 13B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 10A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 8 mm. Style length: About 7.4 mm. Style color:             Close to 144C. Stigma diameter: About 1.2 mm. Stigma shape:             Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary color: Close             to 144C. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant: About 250             during the flowering season. Length: About 4.5 mm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             N199A. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 30. Length: About             1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 200A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain,     temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 28° C. and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docalhulam’ as illustrated and described. 